Reading v Cardiff City match build up

[Pearcey3]

Really looking forward to this. Two teams bang in form. I will be giving you lot some abuse(from the safety of the Eamonn Dolan Stand).
Under Stam if we score first we are almost certain to win. If we concede first we are in big trouble.

Scoring first. Played 42, won 36; draw 3 lose 2
Conceding first. Played 31, won 2, draw 7, lose 22.(courtesy of Hobnob Anyone)

So the first goal is vital. Our biggest strength are our wingers Barrow and Aluko. Our biggest weakness our strikers. Kermorgant has played really well for us but is just getting back to full fitness and has yet to score this season. Bodvarsson is our reserve striker and is hard working but hardly prolific.
We are almost certain to be unchanged. After a season of tinkering Stam has finally managed on a settled team
Likely line up

Mannone GK
Bacuna. RB
Gunter. LB (ousted by Bacuna from his usual position)
Moore. CB
McShane CB
Van Den Berg CDM
Kelly central midfield(Swift would be in the side but injured)
Edwards central midfield
Barrow. Right wing
Aluko. Left wing
Kermorgant Striker

There won’t be much in this. If we win the play off push is on but you are conceding so few. So for me 1-1.

[jeepster]

Royals 2- 3 Bloobirds

[Pearcey3]

Royals 2- 3 Bloobirds

You’re a bad boy Jeeps. Just to point out we have two current Welsh internationals in our starting line up. I’m sure you will join with me in supporting the mighty Reading FC on Monday night.

[Pearcey3]

Just to add the stat when we score first is 41 games not 42

[cyril evans awaydays]

Really looking forward to this. Two teams bang in form. I will be giving you lot some abuse(from the safety of the Eamonn Dolan Stand).
Under Stam if we score first we are almost certain to win. If we concede first we are in big trouble.

Scoring first. Played 42, won 36; draw 3 lose 2
Conceding first. Played 31, won 2, draw 7, lose 22.(courtesy of Hobnob Anyone)

So the first goal is vital. Our biggest strength are our wingers Barrow and Aluko. Our biggest weakness our strikers. Kermorgant has played really well for us but is just getting back to full fitness and has yet to score this season. Bodvarsson is our reserve striker and is hard working but hardly prolific.
We are almost certain to be unchanged. After a season of tinkering Stam has finally managed on a settled team
Likely line up

Mannone GK
Bacuna. RB
Gunter. LB (ousted by Bacuna from his usual position)
Moore. CB
McShane CB
Van Den Berg CDM
Kelly central midfield(Swift would be in the side but injured)
Edwards central midfield
Barrow. Right wing
Aluko. Left wing
Kermorgant Striker

There won’t be much in this. If we win the play off push is on but you are conceding so few. So for me 1-1.

Must admit Eamonn Dolan gives a bit more character rather than the compass points of the other stands. Shame about the circumstances! Robin Friday Stand for the South?

[Pearcey3]

Must admit Eamonn Dolan gives a bit more character rather than the compass points of the other stands. Shame about the circumstances! Robin Friday Stand for the South?

Yes it does. Eamonn Dolan did a great job and died far too young.I can’t ever see there being a Robin Friday Stand. He is still revered by our older supporters but there will be other names that will be ahead in the pecking order. I suspect our Stadium will eventually have a name change. When that happens I can envisage one of our stands being called the John Madejski Stand. Maybe a Steve Coppell Stand one day too.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Yes it does. Eamonn Dolan did a great job and died far too young.I can’t ever see there being a Robin Friday Stand. He is still revered by our older supporters but there will be other names that will be ahead in the pecking order. I suspect our Stadium will eventually have a name change. When that happens I can envisage one of our stands being called the John Madejski Stand. Maybe a Steve Coppell Stand one day too.

Tongue in cheek for the South. In the same vein perhaps the Duberry Stand though that depends on the state of the grass!

[Pearcey3]

Tongue in cheek for the South. In the same vein perhaps the Duberry Stand though that depends on the state of the grass!

I don’t think Duberry will ever live that down.

[NYCBlue]

2-0 City.

[GRUMPYS DEN]

Tough game-they have come good-take a draw!!

[BLUETIT]

Tough game-they have come good-take a draw!!

Have you taken lessons from YODA.

[jeepster]

You’re a bad boy Jeeps. Just to point out we have two current Welsh internationals in our starting line up. I’m sure you will join with me in supporting the mighty Reading FC on Monday night.

Hope they have an amazing season after you have played us.As supporting Reading i dont think so.

[TH63]

o/t a bit, but Pearcy is the kind of opposition fan that is most welcome here.

Unlike that wurzel

[Pearcey3]

o/t a bit, but Pearcy is the kind of opposition fan that is most welcome here.

Unlike that wurzel

Cheers Tony

Doesn’t anyone know how many you are bringing on Monday night? I am guessing at 2000 and reckon it would have been 3000 if played on Saturday and not on SKY.

[Baloo]

Yes it does. Eamonn Dolan did a great job and died far too young.I can’t ever see there being a Robin Friday Stand. He is still revered by our older supporters but there will be other names that will be ahead in the pecking order. I suspect our Stadium will eventually have a name change. When that happens I can envisage one of our stands being called the John Madejski Stand. Maybe a Steve Coppell Stand one day too.

Is Ricky Gervais a Royal?

[Pearcey3]

Is Ricky Gervais a Royal?

No. Kate Winslet, Ian Gillan and Chris Tarrant are the only celebs I know that support the mighty Royals.

[Baloo]

No. Kate Winslet, Ian Gillan and Chris Tarrant are the only celebs I know that support the mighty Royals.

Pretty sure Gillan is a QPR fan, he's a West London boy. Wrong hoops?

[BLUETIT]

Cheers Tony

Doesn’t anyone know how many you are bringing on Monday night? I am guessing at 2000 and reckon it would have been 3000 if played on Saturday and not on SKY.

Only know that at close of play on Monday (4th), ticket office had sold 690.

[Pearcey3]

Pretty sure Gillan is a QPR fan, he's a West London boy. Wrong hoops?

You may be right. He tried to buy Reading back in the 80s but that doesn’t mean he is a Reading fan.

[Pearcey3]

Only know that at close of play on Monday (4th), ticket office had sold 690.

That’s not too bad. If you bring 2000 I am guessing the gate will be around 16000

[Lawnmower]

That’s not too bad. If you bring 2000 I am guessing the gate will be around 16000

Ticket sales for us depend a lot on when the various guys who run the coaches sort their batches out. I did ours today. However, live on Sky, Monday night I think it will be 1500 at a push.
If it was Saturday then it would have been an away sell out, with us doing well and decent prices. We took 4000 to Fulham ( including the ones in the neutral end) and Reading is closer

Cheers Sky

[jon1959]

No. Kate Winslet, Ian Gillan and Chris Tarrant are the only celebs I know that support the mighty Royals.

Bill Oddie no longer a celeb?

[Pearcey3]

Bill Oddie no longer a celeb?

Yes but not a Reading fan. His beard is very special for us Reading fans though and Mr Oddie does have a soft spot for us now.

[Pearcey3]

Ticket sales for us depend a lot on when the various guys who run the coaches sort their batches out. I did ours today. However, live on Sky, Monday night I think it will be 1500 at a push.
If it was Saturday then it would have been an away sell out, with us doing well and decent prices. We took 4000 to Fulham ( including the ones in the neutral end) and Reading is closer

Cheers Sky

Yep. Would have much preferred this game being played tomorrow and with a packed away end. A real shame SKY have had to televise this and wreck the atmosphere. We may struggle to get beyond 15,000 now. We would have had around 19,000 if played tomorrow.